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October 3, 2007

ALDS 1: Red Sox 4, Angels 0

Angels - 000 000 000 - 0 4 0Red Sox - 103 000 00x - 4 9 0

Beckett: 9 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K, 108 pitches

Youkilis's solo home run into the Monster Seats in the first got the Red Sox on the board. Yook also doubled into the left field corner with one out in the third, right before Ortiz belted a dong down the right field line. It was his 9th post-season home run. Then Manny walked, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on Lowell's single to center. (box)

Beckett was absolutely masterful (and dominant!). Figgins singled to start the game, then Beckett set down the next 19 batters in a row (with only three balls hit out of the infield). Only two Angels runners got to second base all night: Figgins in the first and Aybar in the eighth. Figgins was the only Angel to touch third.

Beckett went to a three-ball count only twice: Figgins in the first (single) and Izturis in the fifth (pop to short). He went to two balls on only six other batters.

While Tim Wakefield is not on the Red Sox roster, the Angels have left off outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. (left knee injury) and pitcher Bartolo Colon (right elbow pain). Vladimir Guerrero (right triceps tendinitis) will likely start the series as the DH (he has not played the outfield since September 4).

It stinks. It really does, but it's not like it was in '99. They're not taking me out because they think I can't get hitters out. This was a decision we made as a team. Trust me, it was a hard decision to make when I was sitting in that office. It's hard to take yourself out of the equation sometimes ... but in a short series with the rules changing, I don't want to hurt us.

ESPN's Jonah Keri has the "Thinking Fan's Approach" and "Nonthinking Fan's Approach" to the ALDS. Also, 9 of 10 ESPN writers pick the Red Sox, 7 of 10 pick Cleveland, 8 of 10 pick the Cubs, and 6 of 10 pick the Phillies.

Rob Bradford writes about Manny Ramirez, "by all accounts one of the smartest, best-prepared hitters in the history of the game".

Later in the workout, which is done 30 minutes before every game, Page throws four rings at Ramirez. Each ring has a different colored ball attached to it, and Page calls out the color of the ball Manny has to grab out of mid-air.

"It's comical how good he is at it," Page said. "Other guys try it, but they don't come close."

Most people also don't realize Ramirez is the only position player who routinely stretches and runs with the pitchers. And hardly anyone sees Manny in the weight room nine hours before the first pitch of night games, at home and on the road.

At the beginning of this season, I mentioned the ultra-fine point pens (0.25 mm line width) I keep score with. I was surpised to learn that there is exists an even-finer 0.20 mm pen. But I never saw it for sale at my store in Manhattan.

Well, guess what I found three weeks ago in Mississauga -- and am breaking out for the first time tonight? 0.20, baby!

Projo (McAdam) has turned Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis into Jeff Napoli. I can only assume they/he are trying to help the Angels by combining their patient at the plate catcher with other offensive skills, with their young defensive whiz.

Just heard on WEEI about 30 minutes ago that MBM will be batting 4th, Lowell 5th and Drew 6th tonight. Tito, excuse me Terry, (maybe we should just make that tjt) said that the lineup will look like what they want to get out there. I assume that means Pedroia and Youk at 1-2 with Tek, !!!!ocoC, Lugo being the 7-9.

If he puts Lugo leading off I am sure you will be hearing my scream of outrage up in the Great north!

that drill manny does is HARD. The circle with the balls on it is pretty big, but the balls are spinning so fast, i usually did worse than plain luck. but I guess that's why i'm not one of the best RHH ever :(

Also, I just read the rest of the article. If the "golf ball sized" drill is the one I'm thinking of, where you use the wiffle-style practice golf balls, that is also hard, but I had a lot more success than the ring drill. It makes you feel a lot more confident about your swing. When you first start, it's like your first whiffleball game- comical misses. You swear you were following it, but you weren't. By the end, you've noticeably improved.

... because I'm a Red Sox fan, I'm thrown in this group of assholes known as "Red Sox Nation" and what comes with that association is a bunch of shit I never bought into or deserve for that matter. I'm a Sox fan and sometimes (most times) I'm a complete asshole about it. But I do it in my own unique way that has NOTHING TO DO with membership cards or worrying about meaningless division leads or buying "Ultimate Fan Packs" OR WATCHING A DEBATE ABOUT A FAKE PRESIDENT OF A FAKE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS CREATED TO EXPLOIT MY LOYALTY TO MY FUCKING TEAM! I don't want any of that and I never signed up for this shit. I admit to being an asshole about my fandom and am completely comfortable with people thinking I'm an asshole Red Sox fan. But I'm not a "Red Sox Nation Asshole Fan." I'm my own asshole.

Goddamn it. I bought tickets to this concert a few weeks ago that I've been looking forward to. Which happens to be tonight. Looks like I will be avoiding the score at all costs, tape the game and watch it when I get back.

Wow, the whole gang is dropping in here hours before the game---cool! Are we all pumped up or what?? :) I unfortunately will miss the first 90 minutes of the game because I have to go observe someone teach tonight from 6:30 til 8. How tacky would it be to check the score on my cell phone now and then? There is wireless in the room, and maybe some less than fully conscientious student will be watching on their laptop. I would take mine but it would be SO obvious what I am doing, as I don't need to be "taking notes."

(Where's the SOSH game thread, by the way. Strange they don't have one yet)

Oh, god.

They did. It was started by a lurker who put in the title that we were playing the Indians. He changed it and apologized, many people said ban him, others laughed and said carry on, I posted in it ... now I just looked and it's gone and it looks like the lurker has been banned.

There should be a new one up soon. It sounded like Schilling was supposed to start it in the first place.

G38: "I was going to stop by and start the game thread since we did it back in 2004, but once Jose posts his keys, in my mind, that game thread is on ..... Let's put together a nice streak, win, say, 11 games before anyone else and I'll throw alcohol all over those of you that attend the parade....."

It's up now. Jose Melendez started it with Schilling's quote from the now-disbanded thread. Saw from the Game Notes (which I read religiously) posted there that the Standells will be playing Dirty Water prior to the game and Remy's throwing out the first ball. Wish I were there!

So...what is our take on Phillies v Rockies? I just got home (have to go back at 6) from work and turned on the game. Rockies ahead 3-0 in the third. Both teams were on a tear at the end of the season. Can't say I care really, but given my east coast ties, I will go with the Phillies.

I like the Rockies; my brother lives there and actually renounced primary RS fanhood to root for the then-new team. Although he admits that he'd be torn about a RS/Rockies World Series.

Their ownership is a bunch of assholes, but it's hard not to like a team of young up and coming guys. And despite all the terrible things I have heard about Philly fans, one has to hand it to them for hanging in there. But I like the Rockies.

RSIf you are looking for pens finer than 0.2 mmm, try Rotring. Technical pens, that work on drawing paper or on tracing paper. If you print your score cards on good quality drawing paper. Then these pens would work.Forgive my appearance. I am just a lurker. A daily one at that

Yup. That's why I liked the White Sox over Houston in the WS. Besides the history-making White Sox win.

Re Arizona, they beat the Yankees in the 2001 WS, preventing NYY from winning 4 in a row. Red Sox fans were rather happy about that at the time. I'm sure you remember now, since your husband was probably quite unhappy.

OK, I get it, Laura. Your loyalties were elsewhere back in 2001. Yes, I certainly remember the 2001 WS. I remember being torn---as a Sox fan, I wanted the Yankees to lose. But I also felt like New Yorkers deserved something to lift their spirits after 9/11. Yeah, my husband was sad about that Series.

Looks like it'll be fun here tonight. My dad's in town tonight and we're going out to dinner at...6:30. Then I've got the radio show @ 10pm. should be able to squeeze a bit of viewing in between the two, though I most likely won't be hovering round these parts. if I do I'll say hi.

Yup. It was my last good season as a Yankees fan. After 9/11, the experience at the Stadium became unbearable, and I started to lose my heart for the team.

I remember being torn---as a Sox fan, I wanted the Yankees to lose. But I also felt like New Yorkers deserved something to lift their spirits after 9/11.

Bah. Plenty of New Yorkers aren't Yankees fans, remember. (Allan, for example.) The playoffs were great, the WS was great, and that was lift enough. No reason for a Sox fan to be torn about that one, IMO.

I am sure you are right that not all NYers are Yankee fans (for example, Mets fans), but I was seeing things through the eyes of my husband and family, so I was torn. Also, as I recall, the media also kept making that point about NY needing a lift. I am sure that I would think differently with the perspective of time, but at that time, I did feel torn. I had grown up in the NY area and had worked in NYC at one point, so I guess those old loyalties came up. After 2003, that would NEVER happen again.

I'm still at work at the moment, so why do something constructive? My dad enjoys baseball, but is not hardcore. Growing up he took me to a number of games and does enjoy it, but has no team allegiance, etc. but we saw games where we were (milwaukee, chicago, boston, anaheim, spring training in arizona ).

He has a particular restaurant he wants to go to and they do not have a TV...they do have excellent organic wood-fire pizzas and wifi from the coffee shop next door, however.

I'm also enjoying this line-up and I look forward to LBJ's appearances.

You are welcome RSRotring.com, has all the details of products. You will have to find a seller. Check the Rotring isograph pens.Pricey stuff, but known to architects (who havent shifted to drawing only on computers) world over.The score cards would look so good that they could become bestsellers ! and beat Remdawg and his crap !

"Wakefield has now had two cortisone shots in his back this season, with the second one coming on Sunday morning, after his Saturday night start. Wakefield then did nothing on Monday, to let the shot do its work, before playing catch on Tuesday. That was where the problem cropped up.

... This is the same injury Wakefield dealt with during August, when he was scratched from a start that later allowed Clay Buchholz to throw his no-hitter. The pain is in the area between his back and his shoulder."

My god, in case you missed this little tid bit. Remy won. Of course the good news is we won't have to listen to any more drivel about the election. The bad news is all of next season we will have to put up with his presidental duties being put on display during the games.

Need Josh to come out with fire in his eyes tonight. I do not want to see a repeat of his last start.

My god, in case you missed this little tid bit. Remy won. Of course the good news is we won't have to listen to any more drivel about the election. The bad news is all of next season we will have to put up with his presidental duties being put on display during the games.

Heh, came here to post the same thing. Of course he won, he led a very involved campaign at our expense.

Good news is that the show I'm going to starts at 8 instead of 6, so I'll get a couple innings in...

That was so cool. I heard what sounded like a really loud jet engine outside my window. A few minutes later, TC's world is rocked on the pre-game by a flyover. Five seconds after that I hear the noise again. I'll never get tired of that.

I was just thinking that. Tim, maybe you can get to the show late and see the whole game?!

I'm definitely going to stretch it out...I wanna see the second-last band (theres 4)...don't care about the first two so...doors at 7:30...probably will start at 8. Play from 8-8:35, Break till 8:50, play till 9:30, break till 10...it just may work...

The story does not end here," said Dr. Charles Steinberg, the Red Sox's executive vice president/public affairs. "We want to continue the dialogue with our fans, whether it is with the top five, the top 25 or the 1,200 who ran for office. We want to give a voice to all Red Sox fans across the country and around the world. Such sustained communication helps us remain accessible and accountable to our fans."

Guess I was wrong about the president thing. I was sure it was for a "fan" to win, and that celebs being involved was so people would pay attention. Turns out, it was a way for fans to think they had a chance, whereas it was gonna be Remy all along.

Ish, I've been wondering, since you're such a pure baseball fan, what other sports (if any) do you follow very closely? What do you do all winter?

There aren't any other sports I follow closely. Doesn't mean I won't watch any. I'm a fair-weather Bruins and Patriots fan. Well, I'll watch the Bruins if they're doing okay, but last year, they sucked.

I usually spend the winter watching a large amount of other television shows, like Nip/Tuck, House, some sitcoms, etc.